Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships and Operations, Division of Student Success

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

8d•$120,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking an Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships & Operations within the Division of Student Success. This role reports to the Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Transition. The Executive Director will lead the Rocky Top Gateway (RTG) initiative, a key program focused on access and transition. Responsibilities include providing strategic, operational, and fiscal leadership for the program and managing the partnership between the university and community colleges. The position involves decision-making authority over program operations, staffing, and daily execution, adhering to the RTG Consortium Agreement and collaborating with senior leadership from both institutions. The ideal candidate will be adept at both executive and implementation tasks, capable of building and leading a team, managing a complex auxiliary operation, fostering cross-institutional alignment, and developing systems to support the entire student lifecycle, from recruitment to post-matriculation persistence. A strong understanding of the operational, academic, and administrative factors influencing successful student transitions across institutions is essential.

Requirements

Ability to operate at both an executive and implementation level.
Experience building and leading a team.
Experience managing a complex auxiliary operation.
Experience driving cross-institutional alignment.
Experience designing systems that support the full student lifecycle from recruitment through transfer and post-matriculation persistence.
Understanding of the operational, academic, and administrative factors that shape successful student transition across institutions.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary leader responsible for shaping, launching, and sustaining Rocky Top Gateway (RTG).
Provide strategic, operational, and fiscal leadership for the RTG program.
Act as the primary steward of the university–community college partnership.
Hold decision-making authority over program operations, staffing, and day-to-day execution.
Operate within the governance framework established by the RTG Consortium Agreement.
Coordinate closely with senior leadership at both institutions.
Build and lead a team.
Manage a complex auxiliary operation.
Drive cross-institutional alignment.
Design systems that support the full student lifecycle from recruitment through transfer and post-matriculation persistence.